The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-19
CHAPTER III.


searches manifest 10 ROsey. Nor, in spite
of her fathers invitation, did he again
approach the galloy---E fact which gave
her her first vague impression in his favor.
He seemed also to avoid the various ad-
vances which Mr.. Mott appeared impelled
to make whenever they met in the pas
sage, but did so without seemingly avoid
Ing her, and marked his half con
temptuous Indifference to the elder Mott
by an increase of respect to the young
girl She would have liked TO ask him
something about ships, and was sure his
conversation would have been more inter
esting than that of old Capt. Bower, to
whose cabin he had succeeded who had
once told her ship was the "devil's hen
COOP" She would have liked also to ex-
plain to him that she was not in the habit
of wearing n purple bonnet But her
thoughts were presently engrossed by an
experience which interrupted the even
tenor Of her young life.
She had been, as she afterward remem-
bered, impressed with nervous restless
ness one afternoon, which made it impos-
sible for her to perform her ordinary
household duties, OF even to indulge her
favorite recreation OF reading or castle
building. She wandered over the ship,
and, impelled by the same vague feeling
of unrest, descended to the lower deck aud
the forward bulkhead where she had dis
covered the open hatch. IL had not been
licfnrha1 fhnra "A
of further exploration. A little ashamed,
she knew not why, of revisiting the scene
of Mr.. Renshaw's researches, she was
turning back, when she noticed that the
door which communicated with de Fer
rieres' loft was partly open. The circum-
stance was so unusual that she stopped
before it In surprise. There was no sound
from within; 1t was the hour when its
queer occupant was always absent; he
must have forgotten to lock the door or It
had been unfastened by other hands.
After moment Of hesitation she pushed
1t further open and stepped into the room.
BY the dim light Of two portfolios she
could see that the floor was strewn and
piled with the contents OF a broken bale
of curled horse hair, of which a few un-
touched bales still remained against the
wall. A heap Of morocco skins, some
already cut in the form Of chair cushion
covers, and few cushions unfinished and
unstuffed lay in the light OF the ports,
and gave the apartment the appearance Of
n cheap workshop. A rude instrument
for combing the horsehair, avis, buttons
and thread heaped on a small bench
showed that active work had been but
recently interrupted. A cheap earthen-
ware ever and basin on the floor, and
pallet made Of an open bale of horse hair,
on which ragged quilt and blanket were
flung, indicated that the solitary worker
dwelt and slept beside his work.
The truth flashed upon the young girls
active brain, quickened by seclusion and
fed by solitary books. She read with keen
eyes the miserable secret Of her fathers
strange guest in the poverty stricken
walls, in the mute evidences Of mental
handicraft performed In loneliness and
privation, in this piteous adaptation of an
accident to save the conscious shame Of
premeditated toll She knew now why he
had stammeringly refused to receive her
fathers offer to buy back the goods he
had given him; she knew now how hardly
gained was the pittance that paid his rent
and supported his childish vanity and
grOtesque pride. From peg in the corner
hung the familiar masquerade that hid
his poverty-the pearl gray trousers, the
black frock coat, the tall shining hath
hideous contrast to the penury of his sur
roundings. But If they were here, where
was he, and in what disguise had he es.
capped from his poverty? A vague uneasi
ness caused her to hesitate and return to |
the open door. She had nearly reached |
it when her eye fell on the pallet which it |
partly Illuminated. A singular resem-
blance in the ragged heap made her draw
closer. The faded quilt was dressing |
gown, and clutching its folds lay white,
wasted hand.
The emigrant childhood Of Rose Mott |
had been more than once Swallowed by |
sca1ping knives, and she was acquainted |
with death. She went fearlessly TO the |
LouNii, anu tluJ tlC hONu
was only an enwrapping Of the emaciated |
and liieless body of de Ferreres. She did |
not retreat or call for help, but examined |
him closely. He was unconscious, but |
not pulseless; he had evidently been
strong enough to open the door for air or
succor, but had afterward fallen in tit |
on the couch. She flew to her fathers |
locker and the galley fire, returned and |
shut the door behind her, and by the skill |
full use Of hot water and whisky soon had |
the satisfaction of seeing faint color |
take the place of the faded rouge in the |
CHASTITY cheeks. She was still chatting his |
hands when he slowly opened his eyes.
With q start, he made quick attempt to
push aside her hands and RISE But she
gently restrained him.
'Eh-whatI" he stammered, throwing
his face back from hers with an effort and
trying to turn il to the wall
"You have been ill.," she said quietly.
Drink this"
With his face still turned away he
fitted the cup to his chattering teeth
When lie had drained IL he threw trem-
bling glance around the room and at the
loor.
fDIhnra,s M Ina baan bara lint nm yaalf ~ |